42 of 64 recommendations implemented but police association unhappy with delays
Almost 18 months after a deadly shooting in Moncton killed three Mounties and injured two others, the national police force is reporting it has made significant progress on the recommendations that followed.
On Feb. 9, the RCMP announced it had implemented 42 of the 64 recommendations made by retired RCMP assistant commissioner Alphonse MacNeil, who conducted the independent review following the shooting on June 4, 2014.
A total of 52 recommendations are expected to be completed by April of this year, and the remaining 12 are slated for implementation by the end of March 2017.
That includes expediting weapon training and roll-out, specifically for patrol carbines, as well as adding advanced and dynamic shooting drills to RCMP firearms qualifications to better reflect real-life encounters, as well as enhancing support and training for supervisors to respond to critical incidents.
According to the RCMP, more than 3,300 members are now trained in the use of patrol carbines — including 25 per cent of front-line members, with a target of 50 per cent set for the end of 2016 — and the force has since acquired more than 4,000 carbines.
The RCMP also said it had introduced enhanced Immediate Action Rapid Deployment (IARD) training and improved its services related to the aftercare of those impacted by critical events.
“We have learned from this tragedy. The work that has been done and continues today will ensure a positive legacy from the most tragic circumstances," said deputy commissioner Janice Armstrong.
Changes a good start
For Rob Creasser, head of the Mounted Police Professional Association — which is vying to become the official certified bargaining agent for front-line officers — the changes are a good start, but they should have come sooner.
He cites the incident in Mayerthorpe, Alta., more than a decade ago in which four RCMP officers were killed after being shot with semi-automatic assault rifles by a gunman who later killed himself after being wounded by an officer.
“The force is finally making good progress on things like training and equipment like the patrol carbine, and I think they’ve been almost embarrassed into doing that because there’s been further loss of life,” Creasser said.
“What gets lost in all of these recommendations is the fact that previous recommendations in regard to Mayerthorpe were not implemented in a timely manner.”
Some of the recommendations in the MacNeil report reflect health and safety concerns of his association, Creasser said, but until the Mounted Police Professional Association is recognized as the official bargaining agent, their voices have fallen on deaf ears.
“Our association has been advocating for better workplace safety for decades. The problem is we were never officially recognized by management, and we’re still not — even though the existing labour program is rapidly coming to an end,” he said.
Creasser said he is eagerly awaiting a federal bill that will establish the framework for collective bargaining in the national police force, and is expected to be tabled at the end of the month.
“But when we become the certified bargaining agent, management will have no choice but to listen to us and hear our concerns,” he added.
Staffing levels
Terry McKee, a retired Moncton RCMP supervisor of the two constables who died in 2014, agreed with Creasser, calling the progress report “news and activity that is a little too late.”
“These things should have happened shortly after the Mayerthorpe incident because we did lose other members between Mayerthorpe and Moncton by powered firearms as well,” McKee said, adding he was disappointed neither the RCMP’s progress report nor the MacNeil recommendations focused on staffing levels.
MacNeil’s report dealt mainly with supervision, training, equipment and technology, communication and aftercare.
McKee said resources would “be better spent wisely, towards the safety and the training of our front-line members,” adding that, “staffing was an issue.”
“I knew there was staffing issues and training issues prior to me retiring in 2013. I tried to bring those issues up with local management and it fell on deaf ears. So when this happened, I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I didn’t speak up,” he said.
Roger Brown, the RCMP’s commanding officer for New Brunswick, said staffing levels were not a concern in the province and there are an adequate number of officers available to do the job.
“People in jobs like mine have to ensure that we do what we can with what we have,” he said. “Obviously, there are times when we move resources around based on the priorities and needs.”
Brown added that the 2014 shooting was a rare incident, and there were many lessons learned.
“It’s impossible for any police organization to be able to adequately resource for an incident of that magnitude. You can’t even think along those lines. The fact of the matter is, when something happens, you have to be able to respond, and respond as best you can.”
